Building construction



March 6, 1956 w. e. KOCH 2,737,267

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

were $550105,

63a BY March 6, 1956 w. G. KOCH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 II E INVENTOR. Wolf FM 9 5X04? BY /3 1'} R315 A rrbRA/E y Filed April ll, 1951 March 6, 1956 w. G. KOCH 2,737,267

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet :5

mm. M 1 T. m m m w N I9 w A M UH W HF lnuufuh E I IF mfl n- Q, N 4 R m u N. W% .m

March 6, -1956 w. a. KOCH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 11, 1951 INVENTOR. "WM 23,. J00? 6, GU17 14 TTOR/Vf) March 6, 1956 w. G. KOCH 2,737,267

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ivar-1E TEJIE if,

United States Patent "ice Steel Company, Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application April 11, 1951, Serial No. 2203430 8 Claims. (Cl. 18935) My invention relates broadly to steel building con-- struction, and more particularly to a structural unit for fastening metallic sheets to formed or rolled structural members for roofs, side walls and partitions of buildings.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified construction of building unit for metallic building structures, for facilitating the erection and disassembly of the building structure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of clip attachment to the structural members of a metallic building structure for fastening and securing metallic sheets thereto. 7

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of resilient clip attachable to structural members of a metallic building structure, and having a spacer member connected therewith, with a screw-threaded te minus projecting therefrom and engageable with metallic sheets adapted to be supported with respect to the structural members, with means for sealing the metallic sheets against leakage.

A still further object of my invention is to provide fastening means for attachment to the structural elements of a metallic building, for securing multiple layers of a metallic sheet roofing thereto, with means for sealing each of the fastening means against leakage and efiecting the laying of the roofing without the erection of scaffold ing or auxiliary structures. 7

Other and further objects of my inventionreside in a construction of fastening means for metallic sheeting assembly with respect to metallic structural members, as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top plan view of a metallic roof fastened to the metallic structural members of a metallic building in accordance with my invention with the roof sheets aligned with respect to each other; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the roof sheets laid in staggered relation to minimize the number of layers of the sheets at the joints of the trough beads through which pol-fora tions must be made; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of a metallic building structure, show-- ing metallic sheet roofing secured thereto by means of the structural units of my invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along a fragmentary portion of a metallic roof structure'substaii tially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the applicationof the fastening means of my invention in spaced posi-: tions along a metallic structural unit; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig.- 1 and illustrating particularly the manifold connection of the roofing sheets at the position of fastening the sheets to the metallic structural member; Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig.- 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken substantially on line 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the method: of punching the metallic sheets at the fastening position 2,737,267 Patented Mar. 6, 1956 reparatory to the securing of the metallic sheets at the fastening position; Fig. 9 is a view of the cli and screwthreaded pin and coasting sealing washer and fastening nut constituting the fastenin device used in the system of my invention; Fig. 10 is a front elevational view or the fastening device illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through the fastening device, taken substantially on line 11 '11 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view through the fastening device taken substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 13-13 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14' is a fragmentary top lan view showing the roofing sheets confin d in position by the fastening device, and showing the lock out thereon for maintaining the roofing sheets with respect to the fastening device; Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 2; Fig. 16 is a top plan view which has been t reshortened, and showing one or the metallic roofing sheets provided with the beading which blocks capillary seepage throu h the undersides of the eoaeting sheets at the end laps; Fig. '17 is an end view of the roofin sheet shown in Fig. 16; Fig. 18 i a trans erse sectional view taken substantially on line 18-- 18 of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is a fra mentary longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on line 19 --19 of Fig. 1; Fig. 20 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of stud carrying an aligning plate thereon; Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the aligning plate used in the assembly of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a fragmentar pers ective view of the modified forth of stud; and Fig. 23 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 23-23 of Fig. 20.

My invention is directed to metallic building structures where rapid assembly and disassembly of the building structure must be 'efieeted. The erection of the building structure according to my invention maybe carried out Without the use of external or internal scaffolding or auxiliary structures. Where metallic sheets are laid on channels, beams, bar joists, roof purlins or beams the work may be performed from the top of the roof without the erection of scaffolding either around the building or beneath the structural members of the roof. I provide a constr ction or metallic clip which may be engaged over the laterally extending flange of the purlin or structur'al member, with a stud welded thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom, with the extreme end reduced in section and scleW-threaded, and the extremity provided with a sharp point for the purpose of penetrating the metallic sheets which are laid thereover. The metallic sheets are provid d with substantially trough shaped channote or beads which inter-engage with correspondingly shaped channels or beads in coacting adjacent sheets in making up the roof assembly. The roofing sheets are provided With expansion and contraction tolerances in the lap through the action of an air-lock head which definitely blocks capillary seepage through the underside of the meeting sheet at the end laps. The coacting sheets, when assembled over' the fastening device, are subjected to a puncturing operation whereby the screw-threaded terminus of the fastening device penetrates through the overlapping layers of the roofing sheets. A sealing washer is then applied over the punctured end of the screwtiif'eaded fastening device and a recessed nut screwed over the exposed end of the fastening device, providing a calking and sealing effect by eoaction' with awasher placed over the end pointed stud covering around the perforations in the roofing sheets for sealing the roofing sheets against entry of moisture. The stud is of such dimension and design that the stud positively supports the underside of the roofing sheet at the annular shoulder of the st-ud 1 at the under surface of the troughlik'e channel or head therein. The perforating operation and the fastening operation, in addition to the original setting of the fastening device in position, are all performed from the top of the roof, and do not require access to the under surface of the roof from any internal scaflolding. Where the metallic sheeting is applied to the side walls of a building structure, the clips of the fastening device are applied to the horizontal members generally known as girts or structural members secured thereto, and the perforations of the side sheets performed in a manner similar to that heretofore described except that a capping nut is applied to the screw-threaded terminus of the fastening device instead of allowing the sharp end of the screw-threaded pin to remain exposed, as is the case when the fastening device is employed in the erection of roof structures.

I have successfully utilized for the metallic sheets constituting the roof or side of the metallic building, structural material such as stainless steel, galvanized steel, aluminum and other rust-proof metallic sheeting or surface protected metal sheets. My invention is particularly important where metallic building structures are to be dismantled and the material salvaged. The dismantling operation, in the structure of my invention, merely involves the unscrewing of the securing nut from the screwthreaded end of the fastening device, the removal of the sealing washer, and the salvaging of the metallic sheet without tearing or injuring the material of the metallic sheet. The clips may be properly spaced on the structural supports or purlins prior to the start of the application of the roof sheets insuring quicker installation. The fact that the fastening device is attached to the purlins or beam or structural member by a clip which has a positive laterally extending spring at the base thereof, insures the proper spacing of the fastening devices and facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the fastening devices on the flange of the purlins, channels, or beams or structural members and moreover, permits the sliding thereof under conditions of expansion or contraction of the building sheets.

Practically all metallic buildings have a natural tendency due to wind conditions to have a natural movement or displacement and where the roof sheets are positively fixed and fastened to the beams or channels or purlins, movement of the building causes an enlargement of the fastening holes in the roofing sheet thus causing leaks. High wind velocities may cause the building to move or sway but the roof sheets do not vary in position or move uniformly or consistently with the displacement of the building. The heavy structural members move under wind or snow loads but the roofing sheets do not move uniformly with the structural members due to being lighter in weight and thus may tear resulting in enlarged holes at the clip points with resultant loosening up of the roof sheets and leaks at the clip points. In my construction the structural supports for the building may move due to wind or snow loads or the roof sheets may move separately but in such movement the sliding action of the clip on the purlin becomes operative thus preventing, due to the recessed nut holding the sheets tightly to the shoulder of the pin, from any movement of the sheets themselves at the hole or perforation point and accordingly preventing enlargement of the hole with the possible resulting leaks of the roof.

The application of this type of roofing sheet and clip enables, on comparatively flat roofs, the end lapping of the metal roofing sheets where the upper sheet lies on top of the lower sheet to insure a water tight joint without the use of caulking or sealing compound.

The use of the clip of my invention and the metallic sheets in connection therewith employing the troughlike channels or beads permits greater spans or structural supports for the spacing of the steel purlins with the resulting increased economy in building construction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference characters 4 I 1, 2 and 3 designate the roof members or beams or purlins of a metallic roof structure supported by the roof beam supports 4 and 5, and connected thereto through angle members 6. Bracing beams or trusses 7 are interposed between the roof beam supports 4-5 etc. and supported from the transverse beams or trusses 7, as represented in Fig. 3. Transverse beams or trusses 7 are supported with respect to columns 10. Knee bracing 9 is conventional for building such as this if required.

The metallic roofing sheets, formed from stainless steel, galvanized iron, aluminum or other rustproof material or surface protected metallic sheets, are shown more particularly in Figs. 16-19 at 11. The metallic roofing sheets are all symmetrical, and repeat in pattern for forming the structural assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 by roofing sheets 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 etc. in aligned relation. Each metallic roofing sheet is provided with at least three longitudinally extending troughs, channels or recesses represented at 18, 19 and 20. Intermediate the channels, troughs or recesses 18 and 19, I provide a laterally disposed upstruck bead 21, shaped as illustrated particularly in Figs. 14-19, with a relatively wide, leading, upwardly inclined surface 21a, and a relatively narrow, trailing upwardly inclined surface 21b, interconnected at their junction 21c substantially offset from the transverse center line of the bead in a direction toward the lower end of the metallic roofing sheet. The upwardly inclined surfaces 21a and 21b are interconnected at their remote ends by flat, substantially triangularly shaped surface areas, represented at 21d and 21e. A transverse head of identical and symmetrical construction is provided between longitudinally extending channels, troughs or recesses 19 and 20, and for purposes of simplification I have applied the same reference characters to the corresponding parts of the transverse bead. Moreover, in order to clarify the invention, I have employed similar reference characters for the transverse beads in each of the roofing sheets illustrated in Fig. 1 at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 etc., and have also employed similar reference characters to designate the longitudinally extending channels, troughs or recesses in all of these sheets, except that prime designations have been applied to the several sets of reference characters to designate corresponding parts in the different coacting, immediately associated roofing sheets. That is to say, the channel, trough or recess on the extreme right of the fragmentary portion of roofing sheet 17, shown in Fig. l, is designated at 20', and the transverse bead in sheet 17 is designated at 21'. The longitudinally extending channels, troughs or recesses in sheet 13 are designated at 18", 19", and 20", and the transverse beads therein are represented at 21". Similarly, the longitudinally extending channels, troughs or recesses in sheet 14 are represented at 18", 19', and 20", while the transverse beads therein are represented at 21". In sheet 15 the longitudinally extending channels, troughs or recesses are represented at 18 19 and 20 while the transverse bead is represented at 21. Similarly, in sheet 16, the longitudinally extending channel, trough or recess on the extreme right thereof is designated at 20", while the transverse head is represented at 21". These designations are significant in assisting in reading the drawings in Figs. 5, 8, l5 and 17, where the overlap of the coacting roofing sheets is illustrated. Fig. 19 shows the roofing sheet 13 looking at the external side Wall of the channel, trough or recess 18" and showing in section the transverse bead 21 which laps over the upper end of the roofing sheet 15. These coacting sheets are represented as interconnected by the fastening device shown more particularly in Fig 9-13.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a roof assembly Where the roof sheets are laid in staggered relation with the same arrangement of overlap of the sheets as heretofore described.

, It will be observed that in all of the arrangements the channels, troughs or recesses of the top sheet are enlarged adjacent the trailing edge thereof for overlapping the leading ends of the channels, troughs or.recesses in the adjacent sheets. The overlapping relation of the roofing sheets shown in Fig. 2 are illustrated more clearly in Fig. 15 which is a section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 2. By this arrangement the number of overlapping layers at the securing position is reduced to three as distinguished from the four layers as illustrated in the section shown in Fig. 5 taken on line 5--5 of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

The fastening device comprises a resilient clip 22 having a pair of substantially parallel extending sheet-like surfaces 22a and 22b, with the lower surface 22b terminating in a resilient jaw 22c, adapted to engage the under surface of a flange of a purlin or structural beam or member 3, such as illustrated in Fig. 7. The resilient end 220 of the clip 22 normally springs toward the surface 22a and grips the lateral flange of the purlin or structural beam or member 3 therebetween, but in a manner in which the fastening device is slidable on the flange of the purlin or beam 3, both laterally and longitudinally on the upper edge of the purlin, beam or member 3 so that the attached roofing sheet gravitationally acts to hold the clip in engagement.

The surface 22:: of the clip 22 carries stud 23 thereon, which is welded to the surface 22a and extends therefrom in a direction normal to the plane of the surface 22a. The extremity of the stud 23 is reduced in section, as represented at 24, and is screw-threaded, with the extreme terminus 23 terminating in a sharp point. With a multiplicity of these fastening devices clipped to the flange of the purlin or structural beam or member on centers of approximatelytwelve inches, the roofing sheets are assembled in position, and after determination of the proper amount of overlap of the ends of the adjacent sheets, the channel, trough or recess of the roofing sheet, such as represented at 14 illustrated in Fig. 6, is centered over the sharp point terminus 25 of the fastening device, and with the aid of the hollow ended cylindrical tool represented at 26 in Fig. 8, a perforation is made in the channel, trough or recess 19 in the assembly shown in Fig. 6, by blows applied to the end of the tool 26 by harnmer such as 27 in Fig. 8. This inflicts a self-perforation 28 in the material of the roofing sheet, whereupon the roofing sheet is forced downwardly to a position in which the top annular flange 23b of the stud 23 serves to support the under surface of the channel, trough or recess 19", at the same time maintaining the roofing sheet in position. The condition illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is that'existing with a single ply of roofing in position, as represented substantially on line 66 of Fig. 1. It will be realized, however, that where four coacting roofing sheets come together, such as the condition existing on line 5-5 of Fig. l where roofing sheets 11, 13, 16 and 17 all have a juncture over the fastening device immediately below the aligned channels, troughs or recesses, the condition is as illustrated in Fig. 5, which is a section substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. In Fig. 5, roofing sheet 17 has the channel, trough or recess 20 thereof secured over the terminus of fastening device 23 by a self-perforation operation, as heretofore. explained and illustrated in Fig. 8.

The coacting next adjacent roofing sheet 11 has the channel, trough or recess 18 thereof engaged in locking relation with the channel, trough or recess 20 of sheet 17, and secured over the terminus 25 of the fastening device by self-perforation inflicted as heretofore described and as shown in Fig. 8. Roofing sheet 16 then has the channel, trough or recess 20" thereof laid into interlocking relation over channels, troughs or recesses 20' and 18 and self-perforation inflicted therein over terminus25 as heretofore explained and depicted in Fig. 8. Finally, roofing sheet 13 has the channel, trough or recess 18" inter-locked over the channels, troughs or recesses 20', 18 and 20 and a self-perforation made therein by hammering the sheet through the aid of the tool 26 until the sheet is pierced by point 25 of the fastening device. The sheets are now in superimposed position over the fastening device whereupon the lead washer 29 is inserted over the terminus 25 and forced to a position filling any ruptured edges of the roofing sheets around the self-perforating pin. The lead washer is then packed into sealing position by screwing down nut 30 with the aid of a wrench.

The individual perforating operations will be clearly understood from a consideration of Fig. 8, where it is observed that each of the roofing sheets are individually perforated as they are locked into position preparatory to the sealing operation when all of the sheets have been applied.

All of the perforations, including the application of the screw-threaded recessed nuts 30, are performed from the roofing of the building structure, so that scaffolding, internally of the building or underneath the roof sheets is unnecessary. All application is done from on top of the roof of the building.

The roofing sheets, having been united in coacting relation, are free to expand and contract as a unit, the stud 23 with the attached clip 22 moving with the roofing sheets with the clip 22c sliding on the flange of the purlin or structural beam or member with the weight of the roofing sheet acting to gravitationally hold the clip into sliding engagement with the flange as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

It will be observed that the stud 23 has a length which is predetermined with respect to the distance between the undersurface of the channel, trough or recess and the top of the surface 22a of the clip 22, so that annular shoulder 2312 forms a firm support for the under surface of the first of the roofing sheets to be applied. The fact that spring tension steel at 22a, 22b and 220 is employed holds the clip tightly to the beams and while the clip has slight movement as previously described to prevent enlargement of the holes in the roof sheets it develops sufiicient rigidity and security with respect to structural members that even under conditions of unusually high velocity winds or inside upward lift pressures in buildings due to suotions incidental to hurricanes, the clip positively prevents the sheets from blowing off the roof. The superimposed roofing sheets secure their support from the same stud. The length of the cylindrical portion of the stud and the distance of the shoulder 23b from the surface 22a of the clip 22 is determined by the depth of the channel, trough or recess in the roofing sheets, and different hardware is furnished for roofing sheet constructions in which the depth of the channels, troughs or recesses has been modified.

In Figs. 20-23 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention which has proven very effective in facilitating the installation of the channeled, troughed or recessed metallic sheets by providing aligning or guide plates 31 shown more particularly in Fig. 21. The plates 31 are apertured at 32 with the interior longitudinally extending walls of the aperture formed substantially parallel to each other, with the opposite end walls curved on a radius conforming with the shape of the stud 23. Each plate 31 projects on opposite sides of each stud 23 for distances conforming with the minimum width of the troughs or recesses of the roofing sheets for properly centering the roofing sheets with respect to the flanged members. Thestud 23 is constructed and mounted on clip 22 as heretofore explained except that a pair of flat shoulders 23c and 23d are milled on stud 23 immediately adjacent the annular shoulder 23b. The shoulder 23c and 23d have flat parallel extending faces over which the aperture 32 in plate 31 is adapted to extend. The shoulder 23c and 23d serve to interlock the plate 31 so that the plate 31 extends longitudinally with the slant angle of the roof in a plane in spaced substantially parallel relation to the plane of said clip. Plates 31 may therefore be aligned on the several spaced adjustable clip supported studs and the roof sections more readily aligned with respect thereto in installing the roof. All other features of construction of the stud and the method of perforating the roof sections are carried out in accordance with the specification as hereinbefore set forth.

Throughout the description of my invention I have referred to the roofing sheets as having longitudinally extending portions which are in the form of channels, troughs or recesses. These deformations are in fact inverted outstruck portions of the roofing sheets, and in the claims I have referred to these channels, troughs or recesses as inverted with respect to the surface of the roofing sheets. These channels, troughs or recesses change their transverse section along the roofing sheet as shown, that is the channels, troughs or recesses are relatively wide at the overlapping junctures and narrower throughout the remainder of the lengths of the sheets. This insures perfect and tight nesting of the overlapping of the bends at the joints.

Where I apply metallic sheets to the sides of a building structure, the same method of application of the sheets is carried out except that in lieu of the securing nuts illustrated in Figs. 5, 9, 14, 15 and 19, I employ a cap nut to cover the piercing point on the fastening device, so that the projecting fastening device will not be a hazard.

My invention is also applicable to corrugated types of roofing sheets where the piercing point of the clip extends through the upper ridges of overlapping corrugated sheets and the annular supporting shoulder supports the undersurface of the corrugations.

In all cases for quickness and ease of erection of roofing sheets to index or locate the exact center of the perforating point over which the self punching tool 26 is placed can be quickly and easily determined by striking the flat surface of a hammer on the sheet which will create a point impression showing the exact index or point to be punched. The piercing point is always a case hardened metal of greater structural and tensile strength than the parent roof sheet covering so as to pierce and cut the hole in a clean manner without ragged edges and enabling the application of the roofing sheet and punching and attachment of the roofing sheets to the sheets in considerably quicker time.

I have found the structure of my invention as set forth herein highly practical and successful in operation, but I realize that modifications may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. Building construction, comprising in combination with flanged metallic members, resilient clip members slidably secured to the flanged members at spaced intervals along the length thereof and mutually slidable with respect to each other in a linear direction along said flanged metallic members, studs carried by each of said clip members, a pair of substantially parallel shoulders on opposite sides of the tip of said stud, a plate member apertured at the center thereof and gravitationally supported by the shoulders on said stud, said plate member projecting on opposite sides of said stud, a screw-threaded member coextensive with each of said studs, metallic sheeting supported by the flanged members and having troughs therein of a depth substantially corresponding with the linear dimension of said studs, said metallic sheeting being supported by said plate member with the screw-threaded members extending through the coacting adjacent metallic sheeting, and means engaging each of said screw-threaded members for securing said coacting adjacent metallic sheeting in position on said flanged members whereby said metallic sheeting is movably sup ported with respect to said flanged metallic members.

2. Building construction comprising in combination with flanged members, metallic sheets extending over and supported by said flanged members, said metallic sheets including longitudinally extending trough-like recesses therein offset from the plane of said flanged members, resilient clips slidably connected to the flanged members in positions aligned with the longitudinally extending trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets, a stud member fastened to each of said resilient clips and projecting normally therefrom, an annular shoulder on said stud member, a pair of substantially parallel recesses formed on said stud immediately below said shoulder, a plate having a central aperture therein conforming with said shoulder and said pair of recesses and gravitationally supported by said stud, said plate projecting on opposite sides of said stud for distances substantially conforming with the minimum width of said trough-like recesses, a screw-threaded member projecting from said stud member and through the trough-like recesses of the coacting metallic sheets for supporting said metallic sheets on said plate in spaced relation to said flanged members, and means engaging said screw-threaded members and said metallic sheets whereby said sheets are supported in a position free to slide laterally and longitudinally with respect to said flanged members.

3. Building construction comprising in combination with flanged members, coacting metallic sheets extending over said flanged members, said coacting metallic sheets each having longitudinally extending trough-like recesses therein offset from the plane of said flanged members, resilient clip members slidably connected with the flanged members in positions aligned with the underside of the trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets, stud members carried by said resilient clips and projecting normally thereto in a position beneath the trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets and terminating in a shoulder in a position above the plane of said flanged members substantially corresponding to the depth of the trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets, said stud members each having recessed portions in opposite sides thereof below said shoulder, a plate gravitationally mounted on each stud member, said plate having a thickness substantially equal to the depth of said recessed portions whereby the top surface of said plate is substantially coplanar with the top of said shoulder, said plate projecting on opposite sides of said stud for distances substantially conforming with the minimum Width of said trough-like recesses and forming a support for the under surface of said troughlike recesses, screw-threaded members projecting from the ends of said studs through the coacting adjacent metallic sheets, and sealing and fastening means engaged over said screw-threaded members and clamping said coacting adjacent sheets in position with respect to said flanged members, said clip members being slidable along said flanged members for compensating for expansion and contraction of said metallic sheets.

4. Building construction comprising in combination with a flanged structural support, a multiplicity of adjacent coacting metallic sheets, each metallic sheet having trough-like longitudinally extending recesses therein projecting to positions offset from the plane of said flanged structural support, outstruck transverse beads formed in said metallic sheets adjacent one end thereof and coacting with the surface of an adjacent longitudinally extending coacting metallic sheet, resilient clip members slidably connected to the flanged structural support in positions aligned with the trough-like recesses in said coacting metallic sheets, a stud-like member carried by each of said clips and projecting substantially normal therefrom and having a pair of spaced shoulders formed thereon at a distance from said clip corresponding substantially to the depth of the trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets, a plate member having a central aperture therein engaged by said pair of shoulders, said plate memberprojecting on opposite sides of said stud and having a width substantially conforming with the minimum width of said trough-like recesses, a screw-threaded member extending through the trough-like recesses of coacting metallic sheets and through said metallic sheets, and sealing and fastening means engaged over said screw-threaded members and abutting with the surface of one of said metallic sheets for maintaining said metallicsheets in position with respect to said flanged structural members capable of lateral and longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

5. Building construction comprising in combination with flanged members, metallic sheets extending over and supported by said flanged members, said metallic sheets including longitudinally extending trough-like recesses therein displaced from the plane of said flanged members, resilient clips slidably connected to the flanged members in positions beneath said longitudinally extending troughlike recesses and selectively settable in predetermined spacial relation, a stud member fastened to each of said resilient clips and projecting normally therefrom, a shoulder formed on said stud at a linear distance from said clip substantially equal to the depth of the trough-like recesses in said metallic sheets a plate member supported on said shoulder and projecting on opposite sides thereof for distances conforming with the minimum width of said trough-like recesses, said plate member engaging said trough-like recesses and supporting said metallic sheets from the trough-like recesses therein, a screwthreaded terminus on each of said studs, a piercing point on said screw-threaded terminus rupturing and penetrating the material of the metallic sheets under pressure, with said screw-threaded terminus projecting beyond the planes of the trough-like recesses in coacting adjacent metallic sheets, and sealing and fastening means engaged with said screw-threaded terminus for securing said sheets on said flanged members in positions capable of lateral and longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

6. Building construction comprising in combination with flanged members, a multiplicity of adjacent coacting metallic sheets each including longitudinally extending trough-like recessed portions therein telescopically engaging each other at adjacent interconnecting portions of said metallic sheets, with the longitudinally extending recessed portion displaced from the plane of said flanged members, resilient clip members slidably engaged with the flanged members at spaced positions in alignment with the trough-like recessed portions in said metallic sheets, a stud carried by each of said resilient clips, a shoulder formed on each stud at a linear distance from said metallic clip substantially corresponding to the depth of the trough-like recessed portions in said metallic sheets, a plate member supported by said shoulder and projecting on opposite sides of said stud for a distance substantially conforming with the minimum width of said trough-like recessed portions in said sheet members, a screw-threaded terminus extending axially from each of said studs and having a piercing hardened point thereon rupturing successive metallic sheets under pressure while supported by the plate member on the shoulder of the stud, a sealing member engaged the screw-threaded terminus externally of the last of the superimposed trough-like recessed portions of the coacting metallic sheets, and a screw-threaded member engaged with the projecting screw-threaded terminus for securing said sealing member into sealing position around said screw-threaded terminus at the junction thereof with the superimposed trough-like recessed portions of said metallic sheets whereby said metallic sheets are free to shift as a unit both laterally and longitudinally with respect to said flanged members.

7. In a building structure, a flanged structural member, metallic sheet material for covering said flanged structural vmember a removable clip having a pair of spring jaws resiliently engaged over the flange of said flanged structural member, a stud extending along an axis substantially normal to the plane of said clip, a shoulder formed on the upper end of said stud, a plate supported on said shoulder and extending in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said clip and substantially beyond opposite sides of said stud a screw-threaded member of substantially smaller diameter than said stud integral with said stud and extending from the shoulder thereon and terminating in a piercing point whereby said metallic sheet material laid over the piercing point of said screwthreaded terminus may be ruptured and seated in a position supported by said said plate on said shoulder, and fastening means engaged with said screw-threaded terminus and abutting the upper surface of the metallic sheet for maintaining said last mentioned sheet in position in a plane offset from the plane of said clip at a distance equal to the distance between the shoulder on said stud and the plane of the clip free to shift both laterally and longitudinally with respect to said structural member.

8. A clip device for fastening metal sheets to the flanges of flanged structural members comprising a metal sheet, a resilient clip having a pair of coacting substantially parallel resilient spaced jaws, one of said jaws having a yieldable leading portion for slidably mounting said clip on the flange of a flanged structural member and with said yieldable leading portion engaging one side of the flange and the other of said jaws slidably and fn'ctionally engaging the other side of said flange, a stud supported on said last-mentioned jaw and projecting substantially normal thereto and terminating in a shoulder substantially spaced therefrom, a pair of chordal recesses formed in the opposite sides of said stud, a screw-threaded member extending axially from said stud and terminating in a metal sheet piercing point, a plate member having a central aperture therein and engaging the shoulder on said stud and gravitationally seated in said chordal recesses at the opposite sides thereof, said plate member extending on opposite sides of said stud and forming a support for said metal sheet, and screw-threaded means engaging said screw-threaded member for sealing and securing said metal sheet on said stud in a position capable of both lateral and longitudinal displacement with respect to the flanged structural member as the resilient spaced jaws of said clip slide with respect to said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 397,298 Lee Feb. 5, 1889 505,852 Sagendorph Oct. 3, 1893 865,610 Pullets Sept. 10, 1907 1,422,148 Tonkin July 11, 1922 1,930,187 Abronski Oct. 10, 1933 1,967,145 Fisher July 17, 1934 

